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A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Torgersen working for university's future

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 17 - January 26, 1995

President Paul Torgersen has been pounding the hallways of the General
Assembly since the gavel first came down, talking about the impact of the
proposed budget cuts on the entire university.

"Since the beginning of the session, Dr. Torgersen has personally met with all
of the members of both the House and Senate money committees," said Larry
Hincker, director of University Relations. "Plus, he has met with countless
other legislators, talking about the needs of higher education, championing the
cause of the Extension programs and the experiment stations."

Hincker said that Torgersen has been talking with the presidents of the other
state universities on how best to respond to the General Assembly. As an
outgrowth of that effort, the subcommittees responsible for higher education
have has introduced an omnibus budget bill to restore all of the funding cut
from higher education. In addition to the omnibus bill, Hincker noted, each
university will submit individual college amendments.

Torgersen joined with numerous faculty members for the first Agri-Celebration
in Richmond on the opening day of the General Assembly. Forestry and
agriculture-industry leaders were in attendance, along with many members of the
state legislature, for a review of the achievements of these two industries
that account for one-fourth of the gross state product.

Hincker said that in addition to meeting with various benefactors to the
university to discuss the budget situation, Torgersen also held an editorial
board meeting with the Richmond Times Dispatch to discuss the future of
higher education funding in the commonwealth, and testified before the House
Appropriations Committee on Monday. The Times Dispatch also ran an
article Torgersen wrote defending the role of Extension as an essential state
service and deserving of continued funding.(See article
on page 1.)